The Ultimate Cruise Packing List for 2025

Did you just book the cruise of your dreams? Where are ya headed? Perhaps the Caribbean? Or maybe you’re about to make your way from the French to the Italian Riviera? That’s what dreams are made of. 

Well, now that you’ve secured your cabin, let’s talk packing lists! Below, we’ve crafted something for you to reference, category by category. Our hope is that this will take the stress out of figuring out what you need so you can focus on the magnificent memories that are already in the making. 

Essential Travel Documents

Before we get to the fun stuff, let’s talk technicalities. The last thing you want to do is to arrive at the port and realize you forgot your passport or ID. So, here’s a quick rundown of the essential travel documents you might need – especially if you’re charting into foreign waters: 

• Passport and ID: Ensure your passport is valid for at least six months beyond your trip.
• Boarding Pass and Cruise Documents: Sure, everything is digital nowadays, but it doesn’t hurt to print these out, in addition to saving them on your phone. 
• Travel Insurance Information: Again, this will all live online somewhere, but a paper copy never hurt a thing. 

General Necessities

One of our favorite influencers, Shallon Lester, once said, “You could drop me in any city in the world and, as long as I have a credit card and my passport, I will land on my feet.” What a thought, right? The same could be said for all of us! So, don’t forget: 

• Credit Cards and Cash: Always have a mixture of both. Also, some ports may require cash for smaller purchases. 
• Copy of Prescriptions: If you take medication, bring an extra supply, as well as a copy of your prescriptions. Most cruise ships have doctors on board and, should you run into an emergency, a copy of that script could be life-saving. 

Daytime Attire

If you’re taking a cruise to Alaska or Norway, packing becomes a bit tricky. You basically need to pack for every season. But, generally speaking, let’s run down some daytime attire essentials: 

• Casualwear: Think breathable t-shirts and shorts for warmer climates or comfy jeans and clothing you can layer for cooler climates. 
• Summer Dress: If you’re going somewhere tropical, nothing beats a summer dress or a maxi dress most days. 
• Swimsuit and Cover-Up: Swimsuits are so essential, we actually keep them in our purses when we board a ship. Sometimes, it takes a little time for the luggage to make it to our cabins and we end up having the pool almost entirely to ourselves while everyone else is waiting in the bar area. 
• A Mixture of Shoes: Generally speaking, three pairs of shoes will do – comfy sneakers, flip-flops, and dress shoes for a fancy dinner. 
• Light Jacket: As part of your layering, don’t forget a light jacket. Even in the warmer climates, the nights can get chilly. 

Evening Attire

Whether you hit up the lounge at five o’clock for an umbrella drink or make reservations for formal dining one night, you might want to have: 

• A Little Black Dress: An LBD is something you can easily dress up with some accessories or dress down should the need arise. 
• Button Downs: For the men, a button-down or two that can be mixed and matched will work well. 
• Dress Pants: Some restaurants may not want you wearing jeans on formal nights. So that button-down and/or sweater will require a pair of dress pants. 
• Accessories: For the ladies, a few pieces of jewelry, a colorful scarf, a clutch, and maybe even a belt may be needed.